5 superfoods to boost your immunity

While the saying “an apple a day can keep the doctor away” still rings true, there are many foods that can help support your immune health. Here are our favorite immune-boosting foods, along with tips on how to add them into your daily routines.

Yogurt and other fermented foods

Our gut is full of bacteria, and for a good reason. Healthy bacteria, called “probiotics,” help keep our digestion systems regular and play a role in a healthy immune system.

Many fermented foods¹ contain probiotics, including:

• Yogurt
• Miso
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Kefir

Yogurt gives you one of the biggest bangs for your bacteria buck and is quite a versatile ingredient. Plus, some fortified dairy-based or plant-based yogurts may contain vitamin D, another important nutrient for immunity.

Buying tip

Check out the ingredients list on your favorite yogurt to see the live active yogurt cultures. To get a variety of probiotics, look for a yogurt that contains five or more strains (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus being two of the most common strains).

How to enjoy

• Enjoy yogurt by itself or as a parfait alongside your favorite chopped fruit and nuts
• A ½ cup of nonfat Greek yogurt makes for a great base for smoothies
• Use plain yogurt as a healthy 1:1 sour cream swap in savory recipes

Green tea

There’s a reason why tea² is a go-to beverage when you’re not feeling well. It may be because many teas, particularly green and black varieties, contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that reduce damage to cells within your body caused by oxidation.

You don’t have to wait until you feel sick before pulling out the tea bags, though. Green tea is another tool to add to your immune-boosting toolkit now.

How to enjoy

• Add ginger, lemon juice, honey, mint or peppermint to your hot or iced green tea for different flavor combinations
• Add a scoop of green tea powder, like matcha, to your morning smoothie or oatmeal

Salmon and other omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods

Omega-3 fatty acids³ are important for healthy cells and immune function. They can be found in some plant oils, like walnuts, flaxseed and soybeans, as well as cold-water fish and other seafood (salmon, mackerel, tuna).

How to enjoy

• Add ground flax, chia or hemp seeds to cereals, yogurt or salads.⁴ This will also add extra fiber, flavor and crunch.
• Snack on edamame or walnuts.

Garlic

Garlic⁵ is a key ingredient in many recipes, thanks to its rich flavor profile. Garlic offers more than just flavor—it’s full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Cooking tip

To get the benefits of the immune-boosting compounds in garlic, crush, slice or mash whole garlic. Then, let it sit for 10 minutes before exposing it to heat. Too much heat can destroy some of garlic’s healthy benefits, so try adding crushed garlic to your hot meal right before it finishes cooking.

Eating whole garlic cloves may contribute to an upset stomach in some individuals. You can still obtain all the benefits and flavor from garlic with garlic-infused oil.⁶

How to enjoy

• Add raw, crushed garlic into your favorite dips, dressings, hummuses, marinades and salsas
• Sprinkle minced or crushed garlic on top of toast, potatoes or pizza

Chicken soup

Your grandmother was right—chicken soup truly is good for the body and soul. The liquid and nutrients in the soup help keep you hydrated, and it tastes good. As a bonus, chicken is high in protein and zinc. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C. All of these nutrients support immune health.

How to enjoy

• Try this quick and easy chicken noodle soup recipe
• Or, check out these recipes for warm and hearty soups

Don’t wait until you feel unwell to add these foods into your daily routine. Start supporting your immune system now, right from your kitchen.

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Published December 1, 2023